I made a visit to Yin Ji Chang Fen (銀記腸粉) in North Quincy at 60a Billings Rd. Originally a famous chain of rice roll food places in Guangzhou, CN with a few franchises in NYC and in other larger cities, including in Canada. This place has also had long waits, partly due to its small location. A sign out front still reads soft opening, and only offering dine in at the moment.
Menu is half rice roll, and half congee and a few noodle dishes. They do offer a dozen or so varieties, including the you zha gui (e.g. fried dough still wrapped in rice noodles) and foods common with congee. I’ve heard others their fried dough with rice wrapper is good there, but too much for me this time. Started simple with a fish congee, beef rice roll, and then hot store ground soy milk, no sugar.
- Soy milk came in a bowl with spoon. A little awkward to slurp like soup when I was thirsty. Tasted good and as expected.
- Fish congee was a bit bland. Likely not fresh fish which is disappointing, but their congee texture was good. This dish gets its flavor from the fresh fish, so this tasted like what I could make at home. Not bad, but not wow. Meh on the shredded lettuce they throw on top. Is this a GZ thing? I prefer scallions. I would order a more flavorful congee next time.
- The rice roll – was good, but I like the dim sum beef version better.
On the menu it’s clear it was a soy sauce beef roll, so it didn’t have the same soft, smooth texture with the hint of orange peel you find in dim sum beef rolls. If you like it salty and a bit chunkier, this will be up your alley. I will give props to the texture of their rice roll - it is slightly chewier and springier than the ones I’ve found even in very good dim sum parlors. Their dish only offers two, but they are large rolls.
Now operationally, they are kind of all over the place, and I hope they work out the kinks. They have a clip board and the procedure is to write your name down. Simple enough, except it’s not listed or called out anywhere that’s what you should do. Tons of people were waiting by the door with zero acknowledgment from the wait staff or even instructions to add your name to the list for a good 15-20 mins, as people waited. Put up a sign! Or take the 10 seconds to say, hey add your name to the list.
The place is not suited for big parties. Most tables are two seaters, and they’ll push them together for more, but the seating maxes at about 20-30 people, including the ‘bar’ with stools by the window.
There are two other rice roll places that have popped up in Quincy in recent years, so Yin Ji is late to the game, but I find their rice rolls to be pretty good and worth a try. Just avoid the crowds and give it a month or so, or go post-peak hours.
